ast time was North Korea; now it’s Iraq. At an age when most travellers would be forgiven for hanging up their boots for something a little fluffier, Michael Palin continues to investigate destinations with a reputation for dysfunction. The three-part (Channel 5) follows the travel icon as he explores Babylon and Ur’s ancient history, modern life in the Green Zone and meets the people hoping that the tentative peace in the country will hold. It’s the latter where Palin inevitably shines, with his disarming charm and genuine interest connecting with locals, turning what could easily have been televisual rubber-necking into something warm, human and eye-opening.
